5 
39, 65/4: 
Bul 23 


Bulletin No. 23. MM. LEIGHTON 


January 16, 1922. 


COMMONWEALTH OF PEVNSYLVANTA 


os 


DEPARTMEN? OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS 
James F. Woodward, Secretary 


BUREAU OF TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 
George H. AShley, State Ceologist 


Sp a 


COAL BEDS IN CAMBRIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 
By 
A yn BA Sisler 


Tntrodue tion. 


Cambria County ranks fourth in Pennsylvania as a producer of bitu- 
mMinous coal, (bi Ships more bituminous coal for export than any other 
county in the State. A large quantity also is distributed by boat and 
rail along the Atlantic Coast. Jts central location in the smokeless 
steam coal district of the State, its fine transportation facilities, 
and the great demand for the excellent coal, which, for its type, is 
the best.in the State, ea hatte the Cambria County production in 1918 
to 20;569 ;253 tons; valued at $60,909,198. The quantity made into coke 
was 1 260 038 tons, valued at Ae 625 612; 18 ,141;677 tons valued at. 
B54 , 055 305 were loaded at the mines for shipment , ‘Bel HOS tons were 

sold to local trade and ‘used by employees, and 286 }OOB ‘tons were used 
at the mines for steam and heat. 


Cambria County is one of the few counties in the bituminous coal 
region having four important coal beds. These beds have good thick- 
ness in different parts of the county, and also are exceptionally free 
from impurities and remarkably uniform in composition. Cambria County 
has at least 24 recognizable coal beds including four important ones 
and five others which are workable locally; the rest are very thin. 
Mhe total average thickness of all the beds is sbout 40 feet, 


Although Cambria County has been a large producer for many. years, 
there are enormous reserves of good coal just being prospected by the 
Porenaryil. The \coaiauets lt unbested) by the drill may be expected TOW 
maintain the thickness and ovwlity shown in adjoining areas where they 
are now mined, 





Cambria County lies west of Allegheny Mountain. It is:‘bounded on 
the north by Clearfield: County, on the east by Blair County, on the 
South by Somerset County and on the west by Westmorcland and Indiana 
counties. It is roughly a parallelogram in Shape, with the long sides 
on the east and west, The average wicth of the county is #O-miles, 
and the length 34 miles. Its area is about 717 square miles, and its 
population in 1920 was 197 839. 


The coal is transported entirely by railroad and highway. The 
raiiroads of Canbria County are one of the greatest assets of its coal 
trade, The main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad follows Conemaugh 
River across the county. That line, with its branches to the mining 
towns, gives the best of facilities for moving coal to eastern cities, 
tide water, the Contral States, and. lake trade. The Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad running from Johnstowm to the main line at Rockwood is 
another direct route to both eastem and westcm coal trade centers. 
The New York Central and Hudson River railroad carries Cambria County 
coal north to the counties in Pennsylvania which are barren of coal, 
to New York State, and to the New England States, The railroad 
facilities, as well as the excellent quality and reputation of the 
Goals, have made Cambria County one of the largest producers of bitu- 
minous coal in the State, 


Cambria County is well supplied with Statc and Township roads. 
Recently the State roads have been improved in many localities, and 
plans have been made for improving may miles of them in the future, 
Nhe towiship froads arc dirt; pub most of ‘them are’ kept in good, con- 
dition. The highways are not used cxtensively for transporting coal. 

The Merinern part of the county 18 nilly, witn summits ranging 
Pont ONO LO Be Ger co Ula Dov OC SCR lOve. | Phery uplands, Have... sontiy 
Rounded outlines, cut by nmumorous vellovs from 300 to 500 feet Geep 
Mhe southern part of the county 1s decidedly hilly. Tho slopes are 
Peuvie, (but there is yery tattle level pround. Conemaugh River flows 
inva decp narrow gorge which it has cut across the geologic structure, 
The extreme eastern part of the county is mountainous. 


STRUCTURE. 


There are cight distinct major structural features in Cambria 
Morty ell) On whichkiarloct tine. position and deith of. tho coal; beds. - 
These are, in order from cast to west; as follows: Nittany anticline, 
Wilmore syncline, Ebensburg anticline, Bradlev syneline, Johnstown 
Syncline, Laurel Hill anticline, Bamesboro syncline, and Nolo anti- 
cline. Bach structure has a gencral northcast-southvest trend. Some 
are more pronounced ‘than others, but cach plays a part in the formation 
of the diffcrent basins of the county. The Nittany anticline at the 
‘eastcim edge of the county and the Laurcl Hill anticline at the westcorn 


4n4 


edge are the most extensive and pronounced structural features, 

Tho Allegheny Front, whose crest marks the cast boundary of the 
county, is an escarpment made by upturned beds on the northwest flank 
of the croded Nittany anticline. 


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Phe rocks desccnd sharvly. from this ridge into the Wilmore syn- 
Clinica drop of 2700, fect inv5s mides.: This’ basin is narrow and 
Shallow and in the northern part of the county tails out a few miles 
north of St. Augustine. The syncline is larger in the southern part of 


the county and rises rapidly to the southwest. 


The Bbensburg (Viaduct) anticline, lying west:of the Wilmore syn- 
Gline, is smell in the northern part of the county, having only 200 
feet greater altitude than the synclines on either side of it, Farther 
south the rocks rise rapidly and regularly to the west. 


The Bradley syncline, lying northwest anc approximately parallel 
to the axis of the Fbhensbure anticline, reaches its greatest develon- 
ment in the northern part of the county. This is a minor structure; 
the slope of the becs is gentle and the trough is shallow. 


The Johnstown syncline lies farther west on the same general north- 
east-southwest line. The slope of the rocks is gentle on the east flank 
of this syncline, the maximum dip being about 100 feet to the mile. 

Mhe beds rise ravidly on the west flank to the crest of the Laurel Hill 
anticline. d 


The Laurel Hill anticline is one of the largest folds in the 
plateau region, The dips are very uniform on both flanks of the anti- 
cline but increase from the north to the southwest line of the county 
where the greatest rise is 2100 fect in 9 miles on its eastern flank. 


The Berresboro syneline occupies 2 Small area in the northwestern 
oh 


pert of the: county at Nipton. It is 2 miles wide at Nicktown. (At 
Barresboro and Westover the axis varies much in altitude, 


The Nolo anticline barely cuts the northwestern corner of the 
CopmGuy. (1b See sharp fold, havingvas hich as 5 ver cent dip on its 
western flank. 


STRATIGRAPHY . 


the outcropping rocks of Cambrig County are confined to the 
Quaternary system end to the Pennsylvanian and Mississippian series of 
the Carboniferous system. The Monongahela, Conemauzh, Allegheny, and 
Pottsville formations alone are coal-bearing. . 
The Quaternary system is present in the valleys and flood plains 
S composed of clay, Sand, and gravel. 


The Monongahela formation has been entirely eroded excepting 
possibly a few acres of what has been called Pittsbureh coal under thin 
Povey remaining insasymlitop ini the Vjilmore synecline. This coal. is the 
highest stratigraphic unit in the county. 

The Conemaugh formation, composed chiefly of shale and heavy sand- 
stone, with many thin beds of impure limestone and thin coals, has been 
much eroded, 


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The Allegheny formation with its valuable coals outcrops well up 
on the hill gloves, It is composed of dark. shales, local heavy beds 
of Sandstone, and clay beds. This formation remains practically 
intact ex¢ent where streams have cut channels through it; in large 
areas it will be necessary to shaftt/for the coals noar its base, 


The Pottsville formation composed of two massive sandstones, 
Shales, a flint clay, and an unimportant coal bed, is also largely 
intact, [ts outcrops ere few, coming to the surface in the Ceepest 


valleys where streams have cut across anticlines, 


The Mauch Chunk formation is red and grecn shale With a hearty 
Sandstone near the center. It i8 exposed only ina few localities, 


The Pocono formation is composed entirely of grayish green sandy 
Shale and sandstone, It outcrops at one point in the deep channel of 
Comemaugh Hiver. 


Fs COALS. 


The coal-bcaring forma tions in Cambria County contain some twenty 
coais. Four are of ercat importance in large areas, 


Lower Kittannine ("B", Miller, White Ash) Coal, This coal is the 





In the northern half of the county also it is a persistent bed with 
£00d thickness and cuality; its development has becn slow bctause it 
is below drainage under most of the ‘county, and other good coals aro 


more easily acecssible,. 


Uovcr et teanning «(Ou Ceme noo], This bed ‘Lies about125 
feet above the Lower Kittanning. It is minced extensively for steam 
Coal in ‘the southern bart of the county where it reaches its greatest 
thickness and importence. Development of this coal began in the 
northern part of the county at Hastings and latcr sorcead to Patton, 
wierc it iS thinncr and of poorer grace than in the Johnstowm region. 





Lower Freeport ("D", Moshennon, Limestone) Coal, In the north- 
ern part of the county the Lower Irecbort is an. cxcellont coking coal 
With low suiphur content and is tle refore more widoly pros pected anc 
ieye hoped whan ne, Otc F peas.) Inthe Ssouthorn' halt. of the -cotnty at 
Peemine dat many places, cepcoially in the Johnstown region, out;i0: is: 
HOorer than the other) coals, and. has been tosted in only.a few. placcs 
Dy criti, This bed is GeO stovlSO:Teet above the Lower Kittanning: coal, 


Upoer Freeport ({"B", Lemon) Coal, Thc. ton Lory Leotend ther 
fiene, eco Lopicecolumias) the Upper Froeport bed... The coal is: uscd in 
aaron go LOCOmMOvIVCS: 2nd With varying results in making coke... :Tt: has 
been mincd principally in the Barne sboro region ‘although the quality 
is poorer in the north half of the county on account of higher percen- 
tage of ash end sulphur than in the othcr beds. The Upper Frecport is 
Thaoke yr sand better in the Southe mm part: of the ‘county and is mined. in 
many placcs. 





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in 2022 with funding from 
University of Illinois Uroana-Champaign Alternates 


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-Pive. other beds are mincd for custom coal; the remaining eleven 
are so thin that they may never be mined. 


Mercer Coal. Mhis is peologicalily the lowest coal in Cambria 
County. It is thin and mixcd with many partings of bone and shale. 
At South Fork its horizon is of commercial importance because it is 
associated with a valuable bed of flint clay. 


Brookville ("A") Coal. The Brookville bed lies from 40 to 100 
feet below the Lower Kittanning coal. This bcd is four fect thick at 
Misert ane on siony, Créek.)). Large niunbers of "knife blades" and 
nodulcs of iron pyrite, and partings of Shale and bony coal make it so 
high in ash and sulphur that it cannot be profitably minec, elthough 
the Lixed carbon and the voletilc mattcr compere well with the Lower 
Kittanning. 


Clarion ("a7 a Coal. This bed, lying 20 to 40 feet above the 
Brookyiitle Coal, is seldom over 1 foot thick in tho county end is 
never mined. 





Bons Creek (lowsr Kittanning ue Coal. . & local coal Tourteen 
fect shove the Lower Kittanning nas been mincd on Bens Creek. Drill 





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hoie records in this region indicat te that -itiis e@ »versistent: bed, 
having-an average thickness of 26 icct. It has more ash than other 
ecails of the same rogion; othcrwiss its quality is the same, 


Middle cittanning ¢ Coal. The Mitele Kittanning coal is 
Many Bisces: irom eb to G5 Tcet ‘aborcltho Lower Kittanning bed. In 
this county it is unimportant and of poor cuality. 


Conemaugh Coals. Numerous smali beds of unmineable coal in the 
SAL AGO TRL TEE oF PSR RETR ATES ER SR TR ~ ree _ 4 eS ‘ 
Conemaugh formation are seattercd through 700 to 900 fect of strata 
above the Upper Freenort hed. 


Tho Mahoning coal lics about 45 feet above the BPete Frecvort coal 
and between th lowor and Upper parts of the Mahoning sandstone. The 
Coal itself is not valuable, wt the iron ore and clays Se en 
With it arc sometimes worth exvloitation. 


The Brush, Creck or’ Gallitzin coal, lying 7O to 110 fect above 
Peete r Nreeoo yurcuad never oxcecdSs” one Toot in thickness and as 
unmnincablo. 


Mhe Bakerstown coal is an unmincable bed lying some 225 feet 
gvove the Upper Freeport coal. 


The Harlem coal lies from 300 to 400 fect above the Upner Pree port 
Goal. Slt Peas been mines sasVcustom e¢oal in one’ locality. The: bed is 
Very egiin, JOUL At iss ro vorted to+po eB good smithing coal, 


Kany other beds only a few inches thick will not be mcntioncd in 
this report. 


Pittsburgh Coal. An impure coal lying about 775 feet above the 
Upper Preeport and having an average thickness of less than two fcet 


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in a very small acreage on a knob two miles sovth of Wilmore, has 
2een correlated as the eastern remnant of the Pittsburgh coal in 
Cambria County. The coal has been minec Sut is of little value. 


BARNE SBORO-PADTON DISTRICT. 


Lower Kittanning Coal, This bec is very regular throughout the 
district, averaging 5 to 4 feet thick with one or two benches below 
Which locally can be worked with the main bench. The vrincinval out- 
croos are in the valley of Clearfield Creek south of Coalport, in the 
valley of Chest Creek between Patton and Althurn, and on the head- 
waters of Vest Branch of the Susquehanna. In the vicinity of Delaney 
the bed is gplit into two benches by 1 foot of bone and shale; the top 
bench is 2 feet 6 inches thick, and the lower’one 12 inches thick. 

At Bakerton the bed is 6 feet 10 inches thick, and is partec by shale 
into three benches, The top or main bench of good clean. coal is 3 
feet 10 inches thick. A 6-inch middle bench is separated from the top 
bench by 6 inches of Shale. The lower bench is 14 inches thick, with 
4 inches of shale between it md the micdle bench. In the Clearfield 
Creek region the bed is divided by a bony parting into a top bench 17 
inches thick and a lower one 2 feet 6 inches thick. The lower bench 
also carries a small bony parting 13 inches from the bottom. At 

St. Benedict the coal is 2 feet 8 inches thick with 18 inches of bony 
eoal on tov. This bed is regarded as one of the most valvable coals 
in the northern part of the county, <A large area of the coal lies. at 
considerable depth, and remains practicallv wntouched, since coals 
more easily reached for mining have had the preference, Its reputa- 
tion as a superior stear coal indicates a large future production, 

It has a Slightly higher sulohur content than the Lower Freenort coal 
Of the same region, but it has less ash. ‘The lover Kittanning coal 

is not used alone for making eccke, but when mixed with the Lower Free~ 
port it sives a calculated coke value of 77 per cent. 


Upper Kittanning Coal. This bed outcrops on Chest Creek and 
Brubaker Run north of Patton and Hastings, and along the valley of 
West Branch of the Susquehanna River, It is minec by drift and slope 
openings, chiefly in tre vicinity of Patton and Hastings, Many 
country banks have been opened. on Chest Creek and West Branch of the 
Susquehanna and their tributaries to supply house fuel, The coal 
locally has a maximum thickness of 5 feet, but the lower part is so 
cut by shale and bone partings that it is not mined. The average 
thickness of good coal is 3 feet 7 inches. In some places "knife 
blades of sulphur" are abundant and are the only imourity. The coal 
remains untested in large areas and it is impossible to state 
accurately its commercial value. It is safe to say, however, that the 
Upver Kittanning coal cannot be exvected to have the excellent cuality 
of the other beds now being mined in the district. After these beds 
have been exhausted, »rofitable production of the Upper Kittanning may 
be exvected if the coal is picked and washec, for it is a good steam 
coal. No coking tests have been made on it, 


Lower Freeport Coal. This bed is the largest oroducer in the 
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Barnesboro=-Patton district, and in meny localities it is fast bécoming 
exhausted. ~The most extersive aevelonment is along ‘Jest Branch, on 
Chest Creek, and on Brubaker Run. [It has been mined for many years 
by drift in-the vicinity of Barnesboro, Snvangler, Elmore, Moss Creek, 
Carrolltown, St. Bonifeacious, and Hastings. The coal is from 3 feet 
@ inches to 5 feet 1 inch thick, averaging nearly 4 feet. The areas 
of thickest coal are in the center of the Barresboro basin. The coal 
thins to the south and southwest anc loses its importance. A Shale 
binder 1 to 3 inches occurs 8 to 12 inches from the bottom, The bed 
is much cut by clay veins, varying from i to 20 inches in thickness; 
the clay veins sre so numerous in’ pleces that mining of the corl is 
unprofitable. 


Locally a bone coal comes in between the coel bed and the roof. 
A local fold makes a disturbec area alone West Branch; the coal is 
crumpled and thin here. The lower Freevort coal ecrries a large 
amount of pyrite in the form of "knife blades" onc ‘nodules. ‘These 
impurities annear to decreese to the westward, where the coal is used 
emuenolvely .or woking.) The coal! rons very ‘high in-quolity, and hes 
a lower «Sulphur content than ony Sther coal in the’ district; its xzsh 
is also below tthe average of the otler coals. 


HoIpexr weree por vTCp {1 This bed is minec extensively in this 
O2Surrct.) ULL aS considered’ > ver vyalusble cosh. sithough it’has more 
Subohur than the Lower Freevort; its ash. content is above the aversge. 
Me bed .outcerovs well up on the hills along “Vest Branch’ ond Chest 
Creek anéd their tribdutcries., [ts most extensive development is in thé 
VECLiaby Of Barnesvor do.) The thickness cf the bead is varicble; the 
maximum is 5 feet; the averzzee Steet 6 inches. It carries ~2rtings 
ane binders of pone and gio te \\werving- much in thickness, cersistence 
Grouse yw An ee inch Mi noerotren lew Lire clay or done is ‘common 
peer GAe Voutom., A 4-inch bench ior conl which is never worked is 
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siways present below this binder. This bed is free from roof sand 
bottom "rolls", and clay veins’ waich 2re present in the lower coals. 
Mie coe) a8 excellent for Stecming Surzoses, ond coes not clinker uncer 


ct 
tre boiler as much |S would be, es >ected of 2 cool so high in sulphur. 
It has been coked With varying Success ot Hastings and Moss Creek. 





A general rise to the northerst brings cll-‘the coals above 


drainage in the novthecstern e(ze of the county, 2nd the rise to the 
Allegheny Front lifts them nll cbove Clerrfield Creek between Desn and 


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Perm ie.) Manse Pee on. ort olting the cogls are irresuinr and 
should be »resnected with the core drill before sttempoting develonment. 
Lower Kittanning Coal. Thisnped outcrops in the valley of 
Clearfield Greek and its tributaries snd on the western slope of the 
Allegheny Front. It has been onvened and develonec at many sinces from 
auegherty to the north line of the county. The; Sed varies from 1 to 4 
feet in thickness and is divided into an toper end lower, bench by = 
characteristic binder. ‘Wnere the lower bench hos considercbdle thick- 
ness, the whole bed is mined and the ~-rting of 2 to 5 inches of bone 


pe, ee 


18 picked out before shipment. Where the lower bench is thin the 
Upper Jench forms the main part of the bed. The binder is then used 
as the bottom and the lower bench is not mined, The coal is fairly 
clean and the sulphur content is low; the ash is medium, This coal 
is used successfully as a steam coal. The bed is subject to local 
rolls Yoth on roof and bottom, and to pinches and "swamps", which 
cause great variation in thickness, 





Upper sittanning | Coal. Phis bed -is also an important one in the 
CLVEtLICL, Tt has peen “developed extensively at Daugherty, Tloyésville 
end Blandburg, The coal has no characteristic impurities, although 
locally the bed is Split into two benches by a thick bone parting. 

In such vlaces the coal beneath the Harting 1s not mined. In) many 


localities the coal is overlain with a few inches of "draw slate”, 
which is taken cown in the rooms and headings for height. The bed 
varies much in thickness et quality. «its average thickness does not 
exceed 2 feet 6 inches. The coal does not rank with the Lower Kit- 
tanning in quality pap anae iron pyrite makes the sulphur content very 
high, The ash is medium, Tests have shomm that it is a very good 
steam coal, but is inclined to make large clinkers. 

Lower Freeport Coal, This bed is thin anc unimportant in most 
of the district, Its average thickness is less than 2 feet and its 
maximum thickness as observed by the writer does not exceed p feet 6 
inches. The uoper nart is much cut by bone and shale partinss. 
Numerous roof "rolls" cause much variation in chickness. Many ‘mush- 
room’ mines opened during war time are now abandoned, A large future 
production cannot be predicted from this bec, 


Upper @reeport Coal. The greatest number of openings in the 
ieee trict is in this bed, Many farm and custom coal drifts ere 
onened micway on the hillsides and numerous large mines are operated, 
Whe bed is not as thick in this district as in other parts of the 
county, but its analyses compare favorably with those of the same coal 
in the Barnesboro-Patton district, The sulyhur is rather high, but 
the ash is fairly low, No coking tests have been mace on it in this 
district, but it is reputed to be a good steam coal. This ted is 
thickest from PFigart north along the Bellwood Branch-of the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad and in the valley of Clearfield Creek, but probably 
Goes not exceed 3 feet 9 inches, The bed is divided into two benches 
Dy @ characteristic 1 to 2 inch bone parting, which lies 4 to 14 
inches from the bottom. This parting is readily separatec by picking, 
so that both benches are mined profitably. The upoer bench eaverezes 
2 treet 4 inches thick; the lower bench is 4 to 18 inches thick, New 
operations are beginning on Clearfield Creek anc 2 z00d procuction is 
Drecdicted) in the future. . DPhecoal is of good quality, olean, with 
the exceztion of one small parting, and easily accessible by drift on 
the hill‘slopes. Large acréases remain unvrosvected and when the 
better known areas of Cambria County have been xhausted; Clearfiel¢ 
Creek will vndoubtedly become one of the large mining centers of the 
county. 


BLACK DICK DISTRICT, 


Lower Kittanning Coal. This bed is by far the most inportant 





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OnG.10 this diste1ov., The cCOmleis mined, mainly by drift, from Vin- 
tondale, where it first outcrops, enstword to Nanty-Glo and on the 
TreUMuories OL Blok Lick Creeks *hnormmous srece in Barr; Cambria, 

Sa Carrolt cownships, where the conti is dee, ere undeveloned ond 
have been “ros pected but littie Dy Oore, CYills it is hard to é€stimate 
Doe WOT th OL Tinie potenvin. Conti jeld et the »resent’, but it probably 
contains Inrgee iucrenges of excellent cool. The Lower Kittanning coal 
closely resembles the sare bed on Conemcugh River in its mode of 
occurrence and physical CiorecuelteuLes., The. COM or cain: bench 
averoees Tron 3h TOS TOC Thick over the entire district. . A thin 

gin le PartINe seyorates"it from 2 thin middle bench, cvernrging léss 
Dik 2 inenostiniiker The roverre bench 18 sear r ted from the middéle 
Pench by a Shale woorting mever oxceeding &£ or S:inches thick. The 
lower bench has 2 reximum thicknoss of 2 feet and sverrges xzbout 18 
Pecteses The plowerwvuencn wis Gnclined to be high in ash cid sulphur end 
if not mined unless it is of unusunl thickness, The top or main bench 
is 2 bright ond “lustrous conl, with /columnicr cleavage, and mines out 
fier cee Lune uC COM NOS op Vem munitori aninivsis, over the entire 
PRCUnLOiey ne mole Ue ae LOM vot th oumutter 2160.39 low, and, Tixed 
CeO everacee Ground 0 per icenuy The wish Renee but is Low in most 


every Mealysis, The sulphur content is rather high. Steaming tests 
Mogae bs the United Steves Ceoloeicnl Survey Acve shown it to be 2 high 
Clnss ouem Cool, Theron makes, lieht eray, sliivery coke thrt is 


Sometimes soft 2nd high in sulphur, w Tt. hes been coled succe Sotu li wie 
Several loc-lities in both bechive rd by-product ovens, 


| Miadle BLY MUN) CON. This unimmortcnt bed, lying about 50 
foet =bove the Tower itt aning Col Wiss) Deen worked mlons) Bleckliex 
Creck. It 18 4 -ersistent bec heaving an overace thickness of sbout & 
PoC cee S Tee eLOn Dene Me veraring 2 Téct- thick, ond tho bottom 


Denon. oe INCRE Ss Unik are Sc sare tod bw FP thick Slay parting. Mine 
qu.lity of the cozl in both benches is good The bed has been mined - 


Tor house coal, 


Lover Freeport Cool. The correl:tion of the uppermost cocl that 
ig mined on Blecklick Creek ig uncertnin. The beds xre not mined -s 
cn ere W280 Une Coremiven) ond Yheretore are border to correi2te 
Cerinitvely., | The interval obovemthe Lower Kittanning coal, which 
vories from 150 to 165 feet, is taken to indicnrte, tempor “yily en 
lJeast, thet the top bed mined is the Lower Freeport coal. The Upper 
Freeport coal was not recognized, The bed is compo sed of. three 
benches, hiving a vocal average thickness of nearly 3s feet. The top 
bench his an average thidkness of necrly 2 feet; the middle bench is 
gene rally thin, MMOVIS Se parsted: Dy a thin bony parting from. Lower 
bench about 15 inches thick. The benches =nd portinges vary much in 
thickness, The portings ere easily seporated from the conl. After 
the supply of clean and thicker eool in other beds is sha usted, this 
bed my be of commerci-l importance. 


JOHNSTO'WN-SOUTEH PORK=VINDBER DISTRICT. 
Mis 18 one or tho Inrgest districts in the county both 7s to area 


Si erooue tion... The sienm coals) or the Windber region, which are 


=~ GQ ms 


ett f) 
pd ie 
f 
i ‘A 
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h 


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PAS hha 


av ay 


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its ae 


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a hibe heed ae 
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i 





clxssed with the well tmown Pocshont.s corls of West Virginia, are 
valued sreatlzy by the ocean trade for steaming nurzoses, Tarcze 
cuantities are usec 4s locomotive steam coal, *lthouch there has been 
a large syocuction from this cistrict for many years, large reserves 
of hish grade coxl remain. 


Lower Mit tanning Coad. This bed is the highest grade, most in- 
aortant , and most “ersistent coal in the district. ..t Johnstomm the 


coal is at or below dreinase level and is mined by shaft or slove. 

The beaurel Hill anticline andthe Ebens>irg anticline bring it to crop 
at different points alone Gonemaugh River. The coal is at considerable 
desth in the YVilmore basin, but in the vicinity of Vlindber it comes to 
the surface and is mined bv drift. 


In the vicinity of Johnstown the coal has 2a resular thickness of 
Ss to-4 feet; the latter ig the maximum fo: the Johnstown basin. A 
lower bench 6 to 24 inches thick, which is not mined, is sometines 
presen, Se oaratec Tron the, top bench by 1 Toot of shale. The coal in 
the lower bench rarely has the good cuality of the upper bench. 


At South Fork end Mineral Point the main bench is thicker than it 
is at Johnstown, enc will average nearly 4 feet, with a maximum of 5 
£6e0. The lower Dench which is also >resent in this vicinity has a 
egular thickness of 2 feet brt is seldom minec. 


In the Jindber refion the main bench of the Lower Nittennins coal 
has practically the gare tnickness.25 in the ‘icinity of Johns town. 
Th olaces @ rider vewine-in thickness from 1 to 14 inches occurs 3s 
to 4 teét above the main bench; the characteristic lower bench 3 inches 
to 2 feet is resent, 


Une ower e toate CO yO Vas GIs EPA otoies high) in fixed 
e2rbon, ive VvOle tiles wa bbervana mons tiure.) 'Initie vicimits or 
Johns‘ cown tTrerped hes a larcern oereentase of ash and sulphur ‘than in 
Pee Osos one area.) ne ively eaciowealso (1s. hivhers. &\0bCis “a veood 
steam coal throughout Che entire cistrict and has been coked with 
PeOGess iver, Gyr LOCal Ulee.y The view or coke isi ii gn, Dub tt os 
2iso:- commonly high in sulshur. 


Uprer Kittanning Coal. This coal also is important, in this 
district, It is best in the ied oe of Johnstown where its revute- 
ton 5 ast oem Coat 15 erve Poco ade mot, better than, that or ‘the 
Lower Kittanning, itltnoursh its eae CooL more recent date 
tian the latter bed, the Upper ! “ittennin« coal furnishes a larze  ver- 
centage or the »~roéuction in * this @istrict Analyses show a high per- 
centase of fixed carbon, and low content of voletile matter and 
moisture, The ne rcent2."¢ Of e¢Sn-ancd sulshur is ratner hich, 


The Upner Kittennin: varies much in th icine ss in the area eround 
Jyonnstown. The minimum is 2 Leet 6,inches, the maximum 6 feet. The 
ereeatest thickness is alons Stony Creek and in the Windber area. A 
Tocel pony coal at the ton end local "knife blades" of nvrite are the 
only marked impurities, 


Along Conemaush River the coal is thinner but it nas léss sulphur 


AY Ke) 





and ash fhan in the Johnstown region. 


The Upper Kittanning coal is not mined much in the Windber area 
where the importance of the Lower Xittanning conl has overshadowed it, 
Prospecting indicates that the bed will average betwean 3 and 4 feet 
thick, It retains its good quality and is marked by the absence of 
impurities, 


Lower Freeport Coal, At the present time this coal is not mined 
extensively in this district although the analyses compare favorably 
with those from'the Lower Kittanning. The coal has a high percentage 
of fixed carbon, low volatile and low moisture content; sulphur and 
ash are rather high. The bed varies in thickness and locally a few 
inches of bony coal comes in at the top. In the immediate vicinity of 
Johnstown the coal has no commercial importance at present but at 
South Pork it is locally workable. Here the bed is split into two 
benches by a thin bone parting, It does not exceed 23 feet thick, 


‘South of Johnstown on Stony Creek the bed is persistent and work- 
able, averaging.about 2 feet 6 inches thick. It is divided into 3 
benches, A top bench averaging 1 foot thick is separated by a shale 
or bone parting from the main bench averaging 2 feet thick. The lower 
bench is never mineable, 


Upper Freeport Coal. This bed outcrops in many places in this 
district. The coal has 4 practically uniform composition with a high 
percentage of fixed carbon, comparatively low moisture, and high ash 
end sulphur content, ‘ 


In the vicinity of Johnstown the bed will average about 3 feet 5 
inches thick. The coal occvrs in one main bench, Locally, a bench 
3 or 4 inches thick comes in below, separated from the main bench by 
5 to 6 inches of shale or bone; it is never worked, The coal is very 
clean and the only marked impurity is a local "draw slate", Th bed 
is regular in’thickness and has no marked "rolls" in either root or 
bottom. Along Conemaugh River and on the west flank of the Wilmore 
basin the coal is rather dirty and unimportant, since it is split by 
small bone or shale partings into two or three benches, only the two 
lower benehes being workable. The upper workable bench ranges from l 
to 2 feet and the lower one from 13 to 2 feet thick, separated by a 
bone or shale parting + to 2 inehes thick, The coal is mined at South | 
Pork, where it resembles both in thickness and quality, the same bed 
at Dunlo, The bed here is divided into 2 benches by a thin shale or 
bone parting which is readily removed by picking, 


The Upper Freeport bed has not been much prospected in the 
Winiber area, but drill records show that it averages 3 feet thick. 
The coal is good in the main bench, as in the Johnstowm area. 


At the present time there are few openings in the bed because of 
the greater importance of the Lower Kittanning coal in the same dis- 
trict. Its value is not overlooked, however, and with the depletion 
of the more valuable coals this bed will become a large producer, 


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PORTAGE-GALLITZIN DISTRICT. 


The Portage-Gallitzin district does not contain as many mines as 
the other districts in the county but it contributes greatly to the 
output. The production has been limited almost entirely to the Lower 
Kittanning and the Upper Freeport coals. Little is known of the other 
coals, as little prospecting has been done by the core drill in cer- 
tain areas, 


Lower Kittanning Coal. The Lower Kittanning coal has been the 
most important in this diStrict for many years. It has high fixed 
carbon, medium volatile, low moisture, and medium ash and sulphur 
content. It is greatly in demand as a high grade locomotive steam 
coal. In the vicinity of Lilly it is mined and shipped as a smithing 
coal, It is equal in quality to the Lower Freeport bed of the 
Friedens district in Somerset County, the standard smithing coal in 
central Pennsylvania. The bed is a single bench, though locally a 
thin unmineable lower bench comes in, separated from the main bench 
by a shale parting about 3 inches thick. The main bench averages 
over 3¢ feet thick, with no well defined partings or binders. The 
bed is very thick, regular, and free from rock "rolls", 


Upper Kittanning Coal. This bed is not important in this dis- 

trict. Although the coal compares favorably in composition with the 
Lower Kittanning, the ash and sulphur content is slightly higher. 
The mining of this bed is limited and cannot be expected to increase 
much in the future, The coal shows great variation in thickness and’ 
quality. Im large areas the bed does not exceed 1 foot in thickness, 
and averages less than 2 feet. The coal is in one bench, 


Lower Freeport Coal. This bed also is unimportant in the dis- 
trict. The outcrop and drill records indicate that it is workable in 
very few localities, although its entire area has not been tested by 
drill. <A few mines have been opened in this bed in the vicinity of 
Portage where it has a maximum thickness of 2 feet 6 inches and an 
average thickness of 2 feet. Numerous bony partings are present in 
places, and locally a "draw slate" comes in above the coal. This coal 
has the same percentage of fired carbon and volatile matter as the 
other coals of the district, but is very high in ash and rather high 
in sulphur. 


Upper Freeport Coal. This coal is one of the most important in 
the district, and has had an enormous production for many years as a 
steam and coking coal. As a steam coal it is equal to the Lower 
Kittanning in the same region except that it is higher in sulphur, 
The coal has been coked with success in the beehive ovens in the 
vicinity of Gallitzin. The bed iS very regular and averages 4 feet 
thick in the district; the greatest bhhickness is 5 feet 1 inch at 
Gallitzin. At Lilly the avceruge thickness is 5 feet; at Portage the 
same; in the Puritan aren 3 feet 11 inches; and in the Beaverdale 
Branch area 3 feet 5 inches, The only bone or shale binder rarely 
exceeds 6 inches in thickness, The bed is free from rock "rolls" and 
"faults"; no clay veins are present. 





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QUALITY. 


The four important coals vary so much in the different districts 
that it is difficult to give an accurate idea of the quality in this 
brief text, <A table of analyses mace by the United states Bureau of 
Mines from samples collected by the Pennsylvania Geological Survey: 
has been compiled end will be printed in a forthcoming publication, 
"Introduction to the Coals of Pennsylvania". Until that publication 
is ready far distribution, information can be had from this Survey 

Qn request, 





GENERALIZED SECTION OF COAL BEDS 





Average 
Coal bed interval Average 
TO eet thickness 
| = 
! “Coal Ss, L191 
{ : 
| | 
| 325 
| 
i Coal Paaiiega,,.| Orgn 
Pees | | 
775-90 ee 
| | 
Raverstown we ot Ut" 
| 
| 0 ei 
} | | 
| Gallitzin |\-—z5-— Ore" 
ean | 5O 
ie Mahoning eter | Or6gn 


| Upper Freeport (B) is 
Lower Freeport (D) 
' Upper Kittanning (C') 

) 


Allegheny Middle Kittanning ( 


C 
ent, reek 
220-575 | Lower Kittanning (B) 
I 

) 


: Claxion (At) 
\ _. Brookville (A 
| Homewood SS 


Pottsville Mercer 





